Tackling the Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Burden in Cancer
Tarek Nahle1,2, Viraj Shah3,4, Harikrishnan Hyma Kunhiraman3,4
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA. tnahle@augusta.edu.
Purpose Of The Review:
This review aims to examine the clinical relevance of cardio-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKMS) in oncology, highlighting its role as both a preexisting comorbidity and a consequence of cancer treatment. It aims to integrating CKMS staging into personalized cancer care.
Recent Findings:
CKMS is a progressive syndrome marked by dysfunction across cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic systems. Cancer therapies-particularly hormonal agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chemotherapeutics-can accelerate or reveal underlying CKMS through inflammatory and metabolic pathways. Early risk stratification based on CKMS stage enables more effective monitoring, referral, and therapeutic strategies. A stage-based, multidisciplinary approach tailored to cancer type and comorbidity burden is essential for optimizing outcomes. With rising multimorbidity among cancer patients, recognizing and addressing CKMS is increasingly critical. Routine CKMS assessment in oncology offers a pathway for earlier intervention and potentially altering its course. A comprehensive, individualized care model based on CKS stage is necessary to mitigate CKMS-related complications and deliver high-quality, integrated cancer care.
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